The below questions and answers are designed to provide general information to the public. Neither the Alaska Department of Public Safety nor the Alaska Attorney General's Office provide legal advice to individual citizens. Individuals should seek the advice of a private lawyer admitted to practice law in Alaska regarding the legal ramifications or legality of possessing firearms and/or ammunition in Alaska in light of their unique circumstances. Additional general information can be found at the website of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: www.atf.gov/firearms/faq.

a “suspended imposition of sentence” was granted and a court later issued an order “setting aside” the conviction; or

the conviction later was “dismissed;” or

a period of 10 years or more has elapsed between the date of unconditional discharge from probation/parole supervision and the conviction was not for an offense against a person - a crime in violation of Alaska Statutes 11.41 or similar law of the United States, another state, or territory; or

a State Governor or the President of the United States granted a pardon for the conviction and the terms of the pardon do not restrict the right to possess firearms or ammunition.

First, was issued after a court hearing as to which you received notice and had the opportunity to participate (all one year Alaska DVPO orders meet this requirement); and

Second, protects your spouse, your former spouse, a child of yours, the father/mother of a joint child of yours, or a person with whom you have cohabited (the checking of box 1(a), 1(b), or 1(f) on page one of Alaska DVPO one year, Rev. 1/07; or box C(3)(a), C(3)(b), C(3)(c), or C(3)(e) on page two of Alaska DVPO - one year, Rev. 10/10 & 5/11 meets this requirement); and

Third, includes a finding of a credible threat to physical safety (the checking of box 4 on page one of Alaska DVPO one year order, Rev 1/07; or box C(5) on page two of Alaska DVPO - one year order, Rev. 10/10 & 5/11 meets this requirement); and

Fourth, prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force (the checking of box 1(a) on page two of Alaska DVPO one year, Rev. 1/07; or box 1(a) on page three of Alaska DVPO - one year, Rev. 10/10 & 5/11 meets this requirement); and

Fifth, the prohibition on the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force has not been dissolved by later court order. (Page six of Alaska DVPO - one year, Rev. 1/07 and page one of Alaska DVPO - one year, Rev. 10/10 & 5/11 expressly provide that the prohibition on use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force remains in effect indefinitely.)

a “suspended imposition of sentence” was granted and a court later issued an order “setting aside” the conviction and the conviction was not for a crime against a person – a crime in violation of Alaska Statutes 11.41 or similar law of the United States, another state, or territory; or

the conviction later was “dismissed;” or

a period of 10 years or more has elapsed between the date of unconditional discharge from probation/parole supervision and the conviction was not for an offense against a person - a crime in violation of Alaska Statutes 11.41 or similar law of the United States, another state, or territory; or

a State Governor or the President of the United States granted a pardon for the conviction and the terms of the pardon do not restrict the right to possess firearms or ammunition.

Convictions for felony offenses against persons trigger life time prohibitions which cannot be lifted by anything other than the granting of a pardon. Prohibitions arising from other felony convictions are lifted as a matter of law after the expiration of a period of 10 years following unconditional discharge from probation and parole.

Yes. The United States Supreme Court in Voisine v. United States, 136 S.Ct. 2272 (2016) removed previously existing ambiguity regarding the answer to this question. The prohibition is for a lifetime, and cannot be lifted by anything other than the granting of a pardon.

Convictions for Alaska misdemeanor offenses, other than domestic violence assault or domestic violence reckless endangerment, do not trigger firearm prohibitions. Prohibitions arising from domestic violence assault convictions are lifetime prohibitions. A State Governor or the President of the United States granting a pardon for a domestic violence assault conviction – with the terms of the pardon not restricting the right to possess firearms or ammunition – would lift the prohibition arising from that conviction. Prohibitions arising from the issuance of court orders, including domestic violence protective orders, are dependent on the terms of the order. Prohibitions arising from domestic violence protective orders remain in effect indefinitely unless later expressly dissolved by separate court order.

Black powder guns that meet the federal definition of being "antique firearms" are not classified as firearms and therefore may be lawfully possessed by persons prohibited from possessing firearms. Black powder for use in antique firearms in connection with sporting, recreational or cultural purposes is not classified as ammunition and may be possessed in a quantity not to exceed 50 pounds by persons prohibited from possessing ammunition.